News

On October 15, State Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) welcomed dozens of high school students from across the 59th Senate District to his annual Youth Advisory Council, a unique, hands-on opportunity for area students to learn about and experience state government and public policy.

On October 15, funding was released for a number of recreational trail development projects throughout the state of Illinois.

The public is encouraged to submit a tribute and photo of their loved ones who served our country to be displayed on the Veterans Day Wall of Honor in the Illinois Capitol Nov. 5-16.

More than $5 million has been released from the Governors Office of Management and Budget to Eastern Illinois University (EIU) for capital improvements on campus, State Sen. Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) announced Oct. 15.

Close to $2.8 million in capital funding has been released to benefit Fort Massac State Park as part of the Fiscal Year 2019 capital budget approved in late May.

State Senator Michael Connelly (R-Naperville) and DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin today announced proposed legislative changes to strengthen “Failure to Appear” (FTA) laws. Noting the significant increase in the number of people not showing up to court, Connelly and Berlin said their proposal is an effort to ensure individuals, who are out on bond, are appearing in court when ordered.

A total of $1 million in capital funding has been released for the proposed river port terminal in the city of Cairo, signaling a key investment in the future economic development of Southern Illinois.

Constituents of Illinois 32nd Senate District seeking state-related information can now contact their new state senator.

ComEd has some important tips to help customers protect their personal information and avoid falling victim to scams.

The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) is inviting taxpayers to explore the new look of its redesigned website. Key features of IDORs new website include encrypted security, better accessibility, a drop-down menu system at the top of every page, and real-time traffic-driven listings.

In preparation of the fiscal year 2020 budget, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has scheduled three statewide budget hearings in an effort to hear funding recommendations for public education. Educators, advocates, and community members are encouraged to communicate their funding requests in person at one of the upcoming hearings.

In just three years, the number of kindergarten through 12th grade school districts in Illinois able to access the internet at speeds of 100 kbps per student has improved by 25 percentgoing from 71 percent to 96 percent. The report, done by EducationSuperHighway, tracks progress toward K-12 connectivity across the United States.

State Sen. Jim Oberweis (R-Sugar Grove) was appointed to the Senate Republican Leadership team Oct. 1. Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) appointed Oberweis to serve as the Senate Republican Whip.

In recognition of State Sen. Chapin Roses special contributions in the defense of free enterprise, and the furtherance of economic opportunities for Illinoisans, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce announced that Rose received their Champion of Free Enterprise Award for 2017-2018.

Senator Paul Schimpf has been appointed to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR). JCAR is composed of 12 legislators who are appointed by the legislative leadership, with the membership apportioned equally between the two houses and the two political parties.

State Senator John Curran (R-Downers Grove) joined Stop Sterigenics today in calling for the Sterigenics facility in Willowbrook to cease operations. Currans announcement comes as the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), upon his urging, sent a letter to the Illinois Attorney General on Tuesday calling on the facility to close until there are assurances of no elevated risks for cancer.

This year, 2018, marks the 15th year of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, as led by the Department of Homeland Security to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity. Illinois will be reaching out to state employees to share tips and best practices, as well as providing educational sessions on cyber topics such as avoiding phishing scams and online safety.

Senator John Curran (Downers Grove) joined Rick Pearson on WGN-AM to discuss the urgency and importance of the public health threat that ethylene oxide emissions from Sterigenics present to the community of Willowbrook, located in the 41st Senate District. Listen in!

Cronus Fertilizers has executed a lump-sum turnkey contract with thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions (TKIS) for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of its Tuscola, Illinois, fertilizer plant. The contract is a critical step forward for the project and will provide Cronus with a highly experienced partner for the projects execution.

If you are planning on hunting or trapping this year, make sure you know all the dates, limits, and application periods before you go.

Representing the interest of Illinois coal industry, State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) spoke before the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to voice his support for the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule proposal on October 1.

The following is a statement by State Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove) regarding the Illinois Senate Environmental and Conversation Committee canceling their planned hearing on ethylene oxide emissions, which was scheduled for Tuesday, October 2, 2018.

State Sen. Jim Oberweis (R-Sugar Grove) was appointed to the Senate Republican Leadership team Oct. 1. Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) appointed Oberweis to serve as the Senate Republican Whip.

Senator Dale Fowler (Harrisburg) will be testifying Oct. 1 at a federal EPA hearing on the state coal industry and the southern Illinois economy.

As part of the Youth Hunt, hunters age 17 or younger may hunt ducks, geese, coots and mergansers, as long as they are accompanied by an adult at least 18 years of age. The accompanying adult cannot hunt these species, but may participate in other open seasons.